Height-adjustable bed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cleaning and making beds, particularly in the care sector, is laborious and taxing on the body due to the need for bending and difficulty in moving heavy beds to access floor surfaces underneath.
Innovation Solution
A height-adjustable bed with a lifting device featuring pivot mechanisms and electric actuators that allow the bed to be raised, enabling easy access to floor surfaces and reducing physical strain during cleaning, with a compact design that can be integrated into existing structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the bed is made heavy and stable, then the bed frame stability is improved, but the ease of moving the bed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bed frame incorporates a lifting device with pivot mechanisms that enable dynamic height adjustment between a starting position (supported on standing surface) and a high position (supported on standing surface via lifting device). This dynamic capability allows the bed to be stable when needed while facilitating easy movement and access to floor surfaces underneath.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting device is divided into separate pivot mechanisms with lower frame parts, upper frame parts, and levers that can move independently. This segmentation allows the lifting function to be decoupled from the main bed frame structure, enabling easy movement without compromising overall stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the bed is made heavy and stable, then the bed frame stability is improved, but the ease of making the bed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device provides dynamic height adjustment capability, raising the bed frame between the starting position and a high position. This creates sufficient clearance underneath the bed for cleaning personnel to work comfortably without excessive bending, thereby easing the bed-making process while maintaining frame stability.
3Ease of operation
If the bed is positioned low for easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the accessibility to floor surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device enables the bed frame to be raised to a high position that provides ample clearance for accessing floor surfaces underneath. When cleaning or maintenance is required, the bed can be positioned in the high position to maximize accessibility, then lowered to the starting position for normal use.
4Ease of operation
If a lifting device is added to the bed, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device is segmented into modular pivot mechanisms with lower frame parts, upper frame parts, and levers that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This modular approach simplifies the overall complexity by breaking down the lifting function into manageable components that can be integrated into existing bed structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot mechanisms serve multiple functions: they provide height adjustment, support the bed frame in both starting and high positions, and can be integrated with existing bed structures. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates bed making and cleaning by allowing easy access to under-bed areas while minimizing physical effort and risk of injury, with a stable and space-efficient mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the lifting device comprises at least one electric actuator for actuating the pivot mechanisms
Implementation Method 2
each are provided with a lower frame part, an upper frame part mounted on the bed frame, and two levers pivotably connected to the lower frame part and the upper frame part
Implementation Method 3
the lower frame part, the upper frame part and the two levers are pivotably connected to one another in the manner of a parallelogram mechanism
Implementation Method 4
the lower frame part of the pivot mechanisms is equipped with wheels which are in rolling contact with the standing surface in a rolling position of the lifting device
Data Source
AI summary
A bed includes a bed frame supported, in a starting position, via bed legs on a standing surface. A lifting device for lifting the bed between the starting position and a high position, has pivot mechanisms arranged on opposing sides of the bed frame, each provided with a lower frame part, an upper frame part mounted on the bed frame, and two levers pivotably connected to both the lower and upper frame part in the manner of a parallelogram mechanism. The lifting device includes at least one electric actuator for actuating the pivot mechanisms. In the starting position, the pivot mechanisms have no contact with the standing surface, while they are supported on the standing surface in the high position and hold the bed frame including the bed legs at a distance from the standing surface.